Cold snap forecast for northwestern Ontario, as winter weather finally arrives to the region | CBC News
[ad_1]
After a record warm December, traditional winter weather is returning to northwestern Ontario with a cold spelling forecast beginning Friday evening.
Environment Canada says temperatures in Thunder Bay will drop to -17 C overnight Friday and only get colder from there over the weekend and into next week. Overnight lows are expected to be between -20 C and -24 C with daytime highs hovering around -17C until next Thursday.
Forecasts are similar across the region, with the Kenora, Geraldton and Sioux Lookout areas all expected to see daytime highs around between -12 C and -24 C over the weekend and into next week. Overnight lows are expected to drop to around -30 C at times.
Cold Arctic air is blanketing most of Western Canada, with B.C, Alberta and the N.W.T. reporting air temperatures below -40 C on Friday. Calgary is expected to have its coldest day in the past 20 years. Meanwhile, a winter storm is expected to hit southern and eastern Ontario over the weekend.
While this cold isn’t enough to trigger any weather warnings in northwestern Ontario yet, it does mark a significant shift from the warm weather seen so far this winter season, and marks a return to seasonal norms for the region.
December was the warmest on record in Thunder Bay, with several winter sports and activities being forced to make do without their usual access to facilities.
Stephen Heart, cross-country ski coach for Big Thunder Ski Club, describes the challenges of having zero natural snow in Thunder Bay – a place that’s usually a winter wonderland at this time of year.
With the temperatures plummeting, the warming centre at People Advocating for Change Through Empowerment (PACE) is preparing for more people to come in and seek shelter, said Georgina McKinnon, the executive director.
“I’ve been running with two staff per shift, but we know the numbers are going to go up, so we’re bringing in three staff per shift,” she said. “We’ve loaded up on supplies and we’ve put a call out to the community for coats, boots, hats and mitts.”
McKinnon said she hopes to have enough warm clothes to give away to clients, and is most in need of men’s items in sizes medium and large.
[ad_2]
